Hawksmoor Remix

Sunday 27th January 2008

Church at Spitalfields

For January we revisited one of our earliest architecture rides, but with bonus features!

Posing for a group photo outside St George-in-the-East (near Whitechapel).

Nicholas Hawksmoor was a pupil of Christopher Wren but went on to plough his own highly individual furrow, stretching the Baroque style to its limits.

The ride assembles on a beautifully sunny Sunday morning, with 18 turning up for the ride. (E-type Jag in foreground!)

A quick look at Thomas Archer's church (1714-28) in St John's Smith Square, for comparison.

Westminster Abbey Towers (1735-45); Hawksmoor's last public work.

St Mary-le-Strand (James Gibbs 1714-17) with Olivia almost posing for the camera.

A careful look will reveal the pyramid tower of St George Bloomsbury (1716-31), and our H2O ride leader!

North facade of St George Bloomsbury.

St George Bloomsbury: Waiting for the service to finish whilst sitting on some of the church decor.

St George Bloomsbury: with a trademark of Hawksmoor - the ridiculously large keystone feature.

St Luke Old Street (1717-33).

Contrasts: The tower of St Vedast-alias-Foster (re-built by Wren 1670-73, tower possibly by Hawksmoor).

St James Garlickhythe (Rebuilt by Wren 1676-83, again tower possibly by Hawksmoor).

St Mary Woolnoth (1716-27): Mark our ride leader giving us a quick run-down.

St Michael Cornhill (Wren 1669-72): discovering the little alleyways of the City is also one of the delights of these rides.

Christ Church Spitalfields closer up (1714-29).

The rather fanciful towers of St George-in-the-East (1714-29).

Janet admires the tower of St Anne's Limehouse (1714-30).

Looking across to Greenwich and our final destination.

St Alfege Greenwich (1712-18) as the golden sunset descends. Then off for tea and cakes...

Our gratitude goes to Mark for leading yet another excellent ride!

(Photos: Philip Loy - except first)